Lizzy Yarnold’s big rival for a medal in the skeleton, American Noelle Pikus-Pace, appears to be feeling pretty confident after sitting out training to spend time with her family and friends.

While Great Britain’s Yarnold was setting a frantic pace on the first day of official practice at the Sanki Sliding Centre in Rosa Khutor, a spokesperson for the US Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation admitted Pikus-Pace had chosen to relax with friends and family.

The American did the same thing during a race over the same course in November and won, however, after a less than impressive performance during practice on Monday, when she finished 11th and 13th, some feel Pikus-Pace may have been better ditching her mates and climbing aboard the sledge.

There is also a rumour the 31-year-old from Utah may still be struggling with a recurring back injury.

Still, whatever the real cause for Pikus-Pace to sit it out it can only be good news for Yarnold, who begins her quest to become the fourth consecutive Olympic women’s skeleton medallist from Great Britain over four runs, with the first two scheduled for Thursday.